The Big 5The Big 5

The Founders of Sociology The Founders of Sociology

►August Comte August Comte (French)(French) (1798-1857)(1798-1857) Father of SociologyFather of Sociology Humanity can be Humanity can be

bettered through bettered through science and its science and its application to society.application to society.

Social DynamicsSocial Dynamics Scientific methodScientific method Order and ChangeOrder and Change

The Founders of Sociology The Founders of Sociology

►Herbert Spencer Herbert Spencer (German)(German) (1820 – (1820 – 1903)1903) Society is like living Society is like living

organism.organism. Social DarwinismSocial Darwinism

The Founders of Sociology The Founders of Sociology

►Karl Marx ( 1818 – 1883) Karl Marx ( 1818 – 1883) GermanGerman Basis of society is Basis of society is

economic organization.economic organization. Divided societyDivided society

►Those who own means of Those who own means of productionproduction

►Those who own their laborThose who own their labor

Imbalance of power leads Imbalance of power leads to conflictto conflict

Conflict leads to changeConflict leads to change

The Founders of Sociology The Founders of Sociology

►Emile Durkheim (1858 – Emile Durkheim (1858 – 1917) French1917) French Apply methods of science to Apply methods of science to

study society (stats)study society (stats) Society as a system of Society as a system of

functional partsfunctional parts Social Integration (glue)Social Integration (glue)

►Values and beliefsValues and beliefs►Your connection to society Your connection to society

relates to your actions.relates to your actions.►SuicideSuicide those more connected those more connected

are less likely to kill themselves.are less likely to kill themselves.

The Founders of Sociology The Founders of Sociology

► Max Weber ( 1864 – 1920)Max Weber ( 1864 – 1920) Groups Groups withinwithin society society Did not believe economics was central Did not believe economics was central

force, but that it was religion instead.force, but that it was religion instead.► Example: Example:

Durkheimer and Marx would view a family as a Durkheimer and Marx would view a family as a structure – father, mother, children, each linked structure – father, mother, children, each linked in certain physical or legal ways.in certain physical or legal ways.

Weber would view the family as a set of actions – Weber would view the family as a set of actions – the action of living together and sharing the action of living together and sharing activities.activities.

VerstehenVerstehen Ideal TypeIdeal Type Work and ideas partnered with DurkheimWork and ideas partnered with Durkheim

Opening Question:Opening Question:

►On a blank sheet of paper (that you will turn On a blank sheet of paper (that you will turn in today)in today)

►Which of the 5 philosophers do you think Which of the 5 philosophers do you think was most rational in his analysis of society?was most rational in his analysis of society?

►What are three reasons for your choice?What are three reasons for your choice?

Different PerspectivesDifferent Perspectives

►Functionalist Functionalist (Structural (Structural

Functionalist)Functionalist)

►Conflict TheoryConflict Theory►InteractionistInteractionist

(Symbolic (Symbolic Interactionist)Interactionist)

FunctionalismFunctionalism► View society as a set of View society as a set of

interrelated parts that interrelated parts that work together to produce a work together to produce a stable social system.stable social system. Society is held together Society is held together

through consensusthrough consensus

► FunctionFunction: things that make : things that make positive contributionspositive contributions

► DysfunctionDysfunction: Things that : Things that make negative make negative contributionscontributions

FunctionalismFunctionalism►Manifest functionManifest function: :

Intended and Intended and recognized recognized consequence of some consequence of some element of societyelement of society

►Latent functionLatent function: : Unintended and Unintended and unrecognizable unrecognizable consequence of an consequence of an element of societyelement of society

Conflict TheoryConflict Theory►MarxMarx►Focuses on the forces Focuses on the forces

that promote that promote competition and competition and changechange

►How do those who How do those who possess more power in possess more power in society exercise society exercise control over those with control over those with less powerless power

Conflict TheoryConflict Theory

►Competition Competition over resources over resources is the basis for is the basis for all conflictall conflict

►Change is Change is inevitableinevitable

InteractionistInteractionist►WeberWeber►Focus on how Focus on how

individuals interact with individuals interact with one another in societyone another in society Social PsychologySocial Psychology How do individuals How do individuals

respond in everyday respond in everyday situationssituations

►Looks at pieces of big Looks at pieces of big picturepicture

InteractionistInteractionist►Role of SymbolsRole of Symbols►Members agree on the Members agree on the

meaning of symbols meaning of symbols ►Often called Often called Symbolic Symbolic

InteractionistInteractionist Studies child development, Studies child development,

relationships within groups, relationships within groups, mate selection etc.mate selection etc.

Popular within the U.S.Popular within the U.S.

Your task today:Your task today:

►You are to try to explain You are to try to explain how each perspective how each perspective would view and explain would view and explain the following aspects of the following aspects of society. society.

►They are given to you on They are given to you on your sheet. Answer as your sheet. Answer as completely as possible. completely as possible.

SchoolSchool►What would What would

Functionalism say?Functionalism say?

►What would Conflict What would Conflict theory say?theory say?

►What would What would Interactionist say?Interactionist say?

A Worker strikeA Worker strike►What would What would

Functionalism say?Functionalism say?

►What would Conflict What would Conflict theory say?theory say?

►What would What would Interactionist say?Interactionist say?

Iraq WarIraq War►What would What would

Functionalism say?Functionalism say?

►What would Conflict What would Conflict theory say?theory say?

►What would What would Interactionist say?Interactionist say?

Homelessness in AmericaHomelessness in America►What would What would

Functionalism say?Functionalism say?

►What would Conflict What would Conflict theory say?theory say?

►What would What would Interactionist say?Interactionist say?

Sporting eventsSporting events►What would What would

Functionalism say?Functionalism say?

►What would Conflict What would Conflict theory say?theory say?

►What would What would Interactionist say?Interactionist say?

Drug useDrug use►What would What would

Functionalism say?Functionalism say?

►What would Conflict What would Conflict theory say?theory say?

►What would What would Interactionist say?Interactionist say?

Religion Religion ►What would What would

Functionalism say?Functionalism say?

►What would Conflict What would Conflict theory say?theory say?

►What would What would Interactionist say?Interactionist say?

GangsGangs►What would What would

Functionalism say?Functionalism say?

►What would Conflict What would Conflict theory say?theory say?

►What would What would Interactionist say?Interactionist say?

Your idea here: _________Your idea here: _________

►What would Functionalism say?What would Functionalism say?

►What would Conflict theory say?What would Conflict theory say?

►What would Interactionist say?What would Interactionist say?

Exit Question:Exit Question:►Which perspective seems like the most

rational when viewing aspects of society?

►What are three reasons for your choice?

►Turn in your sheet with your questions before you leave!